A rhizome, the bulb from which the calla lily gets its name, is what gives rise to the enormous, green leaves that are often speckled with lighter-colored dots. The trumpet-shaped curled paper-like blossom blooms from the sturdy stem’s tip. Caladium and jack-in-the-pulpit are both members of the same family as the calla lily. This plant is not a lily, despite the fact that it is referred to as one. Calla lilies are an easy-to-grow houseplant or yard decoration. Brides often use them in bridal bouquets and cut flower arrangements because of their wide variety of uses. Almost any soil, as long as it’s wet enough, will support the calla lily genus’ robust and durable growth.
Planting Calla Lily Bulbs: When and Where?
It’s common knowledge that calla lilies, which are commonly referred to as’spring bulbs,’ thrive in tropical temperatures in USDA zones 8-10. At any moment, they can be sown! When the temperature is over 55 degrees F, they can be grown elsewhere (below 55 degrees, calla lilies stop growing). The first 12 weeks following planting should be free of frost and temperatures that fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Best Places to Plant Calla Lilies
Full sun or partial shade is ideal for planting the calla lilies (the partial shade location is best in warmer climates so as not to stress the delicate calla). When selecting a spot for planting, keep in mind that calla lilies can grow up to 3 feet tall and have a circumference of up to 1 1/2 feet when completely mature.
Your calla lily seeds need to be sown.
Planting calla lily seeds are all about beginning them before you plant them. While waiting for your calla lily seeds to sprout, place them on a damp paper towel, lightly cover them with plastic wrap, and keep them cool and out of direct sunshine. You’ll be able to tell which seeds are going to germinate and which ones you can toss.
During the sprouting stage of your seeds, you can separate the ones that are ready to be planted and discard the ones that don’t. Choosing containers with proper drainage, filling them with soil, and planting two seeds per pot are all things to keep in mind if you’re intending to start them in containers and transplant them later. Once the seedlings have sprouted, you can begin to separate them to allow them more space to thrive. Calla lilies can be moved outside at any time.
There are a few considerations to make before deciding to put the healthy seeds immediately in the ground. In your area, is it still warm enough for plants to grow in the “colder season?” Whether or not you plan to keep them in the ground all year round is a question you must answer. Even if your calla lily blooms the first year, you may be better off buying new plants than trying to cultivate them from seed every year if you just want annual blossoms.
Planting Depth in a Backyard Garden
Dormant rhizomes, which appear like bulbs, are commonly sold in garden centers and online. In the spring, plant calla lily rhizomes 4 to 6 inches deep in a full- or part-shade garden area. The top of the rhizome should be 2 inches below the soil’s surface for larger rhizomes.
New shoots emerge from the roots of calla lilies. The rhizome should be laid horizontally in the planting hole when it is ready to plant. Long feeder roots should be in the bottom, and growing tips should be on top of the hole.
If you want a strong, long-lived calla lily plant, it’s critical to get the planting depth just right when you plant it. Bulbous rhizome roots are produced by these herbaceous perennials. Large white flowers appear on fleshy green stems during the summer months. Plant hardiness zones 8–10 in the United States are ideal for growing calla lilies. The water-loving plant, calla lilies, can be grown in ponds and streambeds.
Planting Depth in a Pond
Scoop a hole in the mud and place the rhizomes in the mud with the growing points facing up to plant calla lilies in water. Calla lilies can be planted in water up to a depth of 12 inches. Planting calla lilies in large containers and submerging them in the water at the pond or stream’s edge is an alternative technique. Lifting and storing plants in a shed or garage where temperatures remain above freezing during the winter is much easier this way.
Arrangements of Calla Lilies
White Flower Farm recommends that you keep your calla lilies well-watered so that they can thrive both outside and indoors. Prior to planting, thoroughly soak a high-quality potting mix. The potting soil should be a little sloppy. Make sure to plant at the same depth you would in the garden, between 4 and 6 inches deep.
Indoor calla lily care is the same as outdoor calla lily care. Containers dry out considerably faster than garden soil, whether indoors or out, so be sure to check the moisture level in the soil frequently during hot weather and in sunny regions. In comparison to pots made of porous materials like wood or unglazed clay, plastic, metal, and glazed clay pots are superior at retaining water and nutrients.
Do not allow youngsters or dogs to get into contact with your calla lilies at all. Insoluble calcium oxalate in the plant, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), causes severe searing pain, swelling, trouble swallowing, and vomiting when chewed or consumed.
Calla Bulbs: How to Plant Them
Before planting, the soil should be well prepared, and mulch should be applied to keep the soil temperature steady. This will alleviate the plant’s stress. Adding mulch will also improve the soil’s texture and help it retain water. Well-draining, loose soil is ideal for growing calla lilies. At a depth of about 2 inches and with the emerging leaves facing upwards, they should be planted. Between each calla lily plant, a growing area of one to eleven and a half feet is required. Immediately after planting the bulbs, give them a thorough watering. The soil should be damp but not soggy at all times. Calla lilies can bloom in 60 to 90 days, depending on the kind, soil temperature, and weather.
Calla Bulbs: How to Take Care of Them
When it comes to bulbs, the calla lily is no exception. These bulbs can be transplanted to a new site after being dug up. Calla lilies can be left in the ground over the winter in tropical regions (zones 8-10). Before the first frost, remove the bulbs from the ground, remove any excess soil, and store them in a dry environment between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. After the earth has warmed up and the risk of frost has passed, replant in the spring.
